Poultry Processing Equipment in Nepal

In Nepal, the poultry industry has undergone massive changes over the past twenty years. Originally a backyard farming system, today it is one of the fastest-growing sectors in agriculture within the nation. 

With increasing consumer demand for chicken meat, the need for processed poultry products and safe handling of food (and thus improved food safety standards) means there are more opportunities for advanced poultry processing equipment throughout Nepal.

Modern poultry processing does not just occur in large-scale commercial operations. Many small and medium-sized poultry farming operations are also purchasing semi-automated or automated equipment that will allow them to increase output and improve hygiene, and ultimately increase their profitability.

Poultry processing relies heavily on the availability of various types of equipment for the overall operation of a successful poultry business; equipment such as slaughtering systems, defeathering machines, chilling units, packaging systems, and cold storage facilities.

What is Poultry Processing Equipment?

Poultry processing equipment is all the machines and tools that enable the conversion of live poultry birds into clean, consumable meat. Poultry processing machinery improves productivity, saves on labour expense, provides better food safety compliance than many types of processing methods, and allows for greater production.

Poultry processing can be done using a variety of equipment types – from simple handheld devices to fully automated processing equipment.

Poultry processing involves various important steps, including:

• Slaughter
• Scalding
• Defeathering
• Evisceration
• Washing
• Chilling
• Cutting
• Packaging
• Cold Storage

Each step of poultry packing requires specialised equipment in order for each step to take place properly.

Importance of Poultry Processing Equipment

The Nepal Poultry Federation is an organization that promotes quality poultry production, safe food, and advancement of technology related to the poultry industry. 

Importance of Poultry Processing Equipment(Source: poultryandlivestockafrica)

• Improved Hygiene: Traditional methods of poultry slaughter in Nepal do not offer the same level of sanitation as modern processing equipment. Consequently, processing with modern equipment will reduce the amount of human contact with poultry meat throughout the processing phase, resulting in a more sanitary processing system. Clean Processing Systems Will Keep Bacteria From Contaminating the Poultry and Improve the Quality of the Food. This Is Especially Important Because There Is Increasing Consumer Interest In Eating Healthy Foods.
• Increased Production Efficiency: Using An Automated Machine to Process Chickens Allows For Processing Anywhere From Hundreds To Thousands Of Chickens Per Hour. This Obviously Creates Less Dependence on Labor to Work in A Poultry Plant and Saves Time. With The Arrival Of More Automated Equipment In The Poultry Industry In Nepal, Many Modern Poultry Processing Plants Are Being Built.
• Better Product Quality: The Use Of Modern Equipment Technologically Assures That The Same Cutting, Cleaning, And Packaging Process Will Be Used For Each Bird. This Will Result in A Product That Will Have a High Level of Appearance And Shelf Life. The Quality of Our Product Will Help Us Gain Access To Supermarkets, Hotels, Restaurants, And Export Opportunities.
• Reduced Labor Costs: Manual Poultry Processing Requires A Large Number Of Workers, While An Automated System Decreases The Number Of Workers/Requires Much Less Labor, Reducing Overhead Costs For The Functioning Of The Company.
• Regulatory Compliance: The Government And Food Safety Agencies Are Becoming More Stringent With Their Requirements Concerning Cleanliness During Poultry Processing. The Use Of Modern Poultry Processing Equipment Will Provide The Tools Necessary For Companies To Meet These Regulations And Maintain Industry Standards.

Types of Poultry Processing Equipment

Nepal’s poultry industry is worth billions of rupees each year in the economy and continues to grow due to rising urbanization and shifts in what consumers want.

Equipment for poultry slaughter

Poultry slaughter equipment humanely and efficiently kills chickens and other poultry.
The types of poultry slaughter equipment include:

• Killing cones
• Automated slaughter lines
• Bleeding tunnels
• Conveyors and shackles

Most large poultry processing plants automate their poultry slaughtering system for more efficiency to process more birds per day.

Scalding Machines

Before removing feathers from poultry, hot water is used to loosen scald. The quality and amount of meat obtained from scalded poultry is better than from unscalded birds, and the overall efficiency of feather removal will be increased when scalded. 

Heated water scalding machines vary in size and can produce different amounts of poultry per hour. 

Defeathering Machines

The process of defeathering can be done quickly with defeathering machines after birds have been scalded. Defeathering machines represent the most common type of machine used to process poultry in Nepal.

Some benefits of using defeathering machines include:

• More efficient processing
• Less human labour is required
• Cleaner final product
• Increased output

Smaller producers generally utilize semi-automated defeathering machines while larger processors use fully automated systems for this purpose.

Evisceration Equipment

The Process of Evisceration is getting the Internal Organs Out of a poultry bird. Machines can Eviscerate Poultry in a Very Clean Way and a Very Productive Way. Automated evisceration systems reduce cross-contamination risks and improve the quality of processed meat.

Poultry Cutting Machines

There are chicken cutting machines that can cut up chicken into multiple parts (breast, wing, drumstick, and thigh). A chicken cutting machine is a great asset for grocery stores, fast food chains, AND packers.

Chilling and Cooling Systems

After processing, chillers quickly drop the temperature of poultry meat. Food safety and product shelf life depend on this important consideration.
In Nepal’s poultry industry, the cold chain (i.e, transportation and storage) is quickly becoming an important part of the industry.

Packaging Equipment

Poultry products are sealed within hygienic materials by means of packaging systems. The advantages of such systems are:                 

• Longer shelf life.                      
• Enhanced appearance of the product.                 
• Simpler shipping.                
• Improved customer confidence.                  

Vacuum packing systems are increasingly being used in the country of Nepal.

Cold Storage Equipment

Poultry Products Should Be Stored in Cold Storage Systems for Safe Cooling

Cold Storage Systems Can Be Categorized into:

• Refrigerated Units
• Freezer Systems
• Cold Room Facilities
• Blast Chilling Machines

It is Important to Utilize Cold Storage as an Important Part of the Distribution Chain for High-quality Meat Products.

Small-Scale Poultry Processing Equipment

Not all poultry businesses require expensive industrial systems. Small-scale poultry farms in Nepal can start farm operations with low-cost machines that are very user-friendly, such as:

Small-Scale Poultry Processing Equipment(Source: chickenslaughtermachine)

• Manual slaughtering tools
• Hand-powered small feather removal machine
• Portable chilling unit
• Basic packaging systems

These types of Machines are great for start-ups & Rural Poultry Entrepreneurs. 

Large-Scale Poultry Processing Plants in Nepal

Heavy investments are being made by large commercial poultry companies in Nepal to build modern processing plants. Some of the features of these processing plants include:

• Highly automated processing lines
• Conveyor systems
• High-capacity chillers
• Modern packaging areas
• Cold storage facilities

Automated processing facilities help companies meet increasing customer demand while maintaining the required level of food safety and sanitation.

According to various industry reports, the poultry processing equipment market in Nepal continues to attract new investor interest as demand for processed meat products grows. 

Benefits of Automation in Poultry Processing

The Poultry Industry is undergoing vast amounts of change due to advancements in automation globally and in Nepal.

Some of the major advantages of automation are as follows:

• More Rapid Production
• Easier to Maintain Hygiene
• Less Waste
• Reduced Dependence on Human Labor
• More Consistent Products
• Increased Profits

Adoption of New Automated Systems for Feeding and processing is becoming more prevalent throughout Poultry Companies and Corporations.

Conclusion

Nepal is experiencing significant demand for poultry processing equipment due to the rapid modernization of its poultry industry. To comply with hygiene regulations, increase efficiency and profits, both small and large processors will require new solutions as producers utilize improved techniques and file equipment. 

Improvements to poultry processing equipment will allow companies to serve customers with safe and sanitary packaged meats in a manner that meets the changing needs of consumers. 

Currently, significant means to implement new technologies are present in the poultry industry, including high startup costs and a lack of technical standards; however, the future of poultry processing will continue to grow positively in Nepal.

Read More: Poultry Management in Nepal: A Complete Guide